Maroon MEMO: Employee News (Mississippi State University)

University Archivist Jessica Perkins-Smith adjusts a framed picture of Col. Robert L. Barnes Jr., one of Mississippi State’s earliest Black graduates and ROTC members, featured in the current art exhibit “Student Salutes: A Visual Tribute to MSU Veterans” in the Colvard Student Union Art Gallery. Open through Nov. 14, the display features mixed media art pieces by MSU students given names of university alumni who served in the armed forces. MSU also will recognize veteran service during its annual Veterans Day Program scheduled for Thursday [Nov. 7] at 2 p.m., on the Drill Field. PHOTO: Grace Cockrell | Public Affairs

Jones earns top individual award
A Mississippi State University Extension professor of wildlife sciences has earned the top individual honor for excellence in Extension. Daryl Jones has been named the recipient of the 2024 National Excellence in Extension Award for an Individual. The award is given annually by the Cooperative Extension System’s Extension Committee on Organization and Policy, or ECOP, and the U.S. Department of Agriculture National Institute of Food and Agriculture, or NIFA. “Dr. Jones is recognized as a national and international expert in natural resources development and conservation on private lands, and he also excels on campus as a mentor for other MSU Extension faculty and graduate students,” said MSU Extension Director Angus Catchot. “His contributions and leadership make him well-suited for this high honor.”

Fourth spring graduation ceremony set for Starkville
Mississippi State will host an additional spring commencement ceremony this May to accommodate the growing number of graduates at its Starkville campus. Spring commencement ceremonies are traditionally executed with a Thursday event and two Friday events. In 2025, MSU will host morning and afternoon ceremonies on both Thursday and Friday [May 15 and 16] at Humphrey Coliseum. Other commencement events include May 13 hooding ceremonies for College of Veterinary Medicine Ph.D. students and other universitywide Ph.D. recipients at 11:30 a.m. in Humphrey Coliseum and 4 p.m. at Lee Hall’s Bettersworth Auditorium, respectively, and MSU-Meridian’s graduation ceremony on May 14, 11 a.m., at the MSU Riley Center.

Landscape architecture department changes name to encompass environmental design
Mississippi State’s landscape architecture department marks a new era with a name change, now known as the Department of Landscape Architecture and Environmental Design. Anne Spafford, landscape architecture and environmental design professor and department head, said the name change aligns more succinctly with the department’s mission. “Often people outside the profession incorrectly assume we only design with plants, but we have a much broader focus in terms of understanding environmental systems -- how plants, soils, topography, hydrology, built elements and human needs work together. Adding environmental design to our name helps communicate our mission of training future leaders in environmental resilience and sustainable design,” she said.

MSU boasts two Rhodes Scholarship finalists
Two Judy and Bobby Shackouls Honors College seniors are Mississippi State’s newest Rhodes Scholarship finalists. Sydney Denton, a history and political science double major from West Monroe, Louisiana, will interview in Denver, Colorado, and Devin Hutchins, a philosophy and economics double major from Hernando, will interview in Birmingham, Alabama. Both students will participate in Rhodes activities on Nov. 14 and interview on Nov. 15. “We are incredibly proud and excited to have Sydney and Devin represent Mississippi State at the interview table as Rhodes Scholarship finalists. They both excel in the classroom, work with MSU faculty on original research projects, and are deeply involved in leadership with campus organizations,” said David Hoffman, director of MSU’s Office of Prestigious External Scholarships.

MSU celebrates first-generation students with weeklong events
Mississippi State is celebrating First-Generation Scholars Week beginning Monday [Nov. 4] with numerous events recognizing and supporting those who will become the first in their families to graduate with a college degree. This fall, MSU was one of 65 institutions from across the country to receive a 2024 #CelebrateFirstGen grant. Sponsored by FirstGen Forward and the Council for Opportunity in Education, with support from TIAA and the Strada Education Foundation, this funding helps to strengthen programming and initiatives aimed at fostering success for first-generation students, who make up 37% of MSU’s enrollment.

Reminder: University policy addresses employee political activity
With campaigning for elected offices culminating in Election Day this Tuesday [Nov. 5], Mississippi State's Office of General Counsel offers the following reminder of the university’s policy on political activities. There are several basic guidelines that university employees should keep in mind when engaging in any form of political activity. MSU employees are encouraged to review OP 01.14: Political Activities in its entirety and to understand their rights and responsibilities.

New website provides support, resources for free speech
Mississippi State has launched a new website dedicated to supporting and promoting freedom of speech and expression within our university. You can access the website at www.freespeech.msstate.edu. This platform has been created to provide accessible resources and guidance to foster a campus environment where open dialogue, respectful debate and diverse perspectives can thrive. All members of the MSU community -- students, faculty and staff -- are encouraged to explore this site and take advantage of the materials and opportunities it offers. Whether you are seeking to deepen your understanding of free speech principles, enhance your ability to engage in thoughtful dialogue or learn more about your rights and responsibilities, this resource is here to support you.

Application window open for university teaching awards
Mississippi State is accepting applications for the 2025 Grisham Master Teacher, Donald Zacharias Early Career Undergraduate Teaching Excellence and the Alumni Association Graduate and/or Professional Teaching Excellence awards. Visit www.provost.msstate.edu/announcements/2024/09/university-teaching-awards for more information and to download documents associated with the submission process. Interested faculty must submit an electronic application in PDF form to the Office of the Provost and Executive Vice President via email to grishamaward@provost.msstate.edu by Oct. 27 if their teaching can only be observed in the fall 2024 semester or by Jan. 5 if their teaching can be observed in the spring 2025 semester. All current full-time faculty members at MSU with the required years of service, regardless of rank, are eligible to apply for these awards. Late applications will not be accepted.

Free learning opportunities via LinkedIn Learning available to faculty, staff and students
Sharpen skills. Explore new interests. Increase professional value. These and other results are now available via no-cost learning opportunities to Mississippi State faculty, staff and students through MSU’s new agreement with LinkedIn Learning. A popular, online education platform, LinkedIn Learning’s 20,000-plus courses are available to campus via a quick login using their MSU NetID email addresses. With self-paced learning, courses are presented in various formats, including bite-sized video, audio only and in-depth content. The platform is directly integrated with Canvas, the university’s learning management system. MSU faculty can use it to supplement course material or even develop and load their own content onto the platform.

Smoke-free policy enhances healthy environment
Mississippi State University is a smoke-free campus. Official policy prohibits the use of any combustible or vapor products anywhere on campus property including university buildings, university grounds, university vehicles, parking areas and sidewalks. The smoke-free campus policy is part of the university's commitment to creating a healthy environment for all members of the campus community. Use of cigarettes, e-cigarettes, cigars, pipes, hookah or other similar devices are prohibited by this policy. The complete policy is available at www.policies.msstate.edu/policy/91301.

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Lead Mississippi FBI agent celebrates partnership with MSU
Mississippi’s lead FBI agent visited with Mississippi State President Mark E. Keenum and other university administrators last week to reaffirm the agency’s partnership with the Magnolia State’s leading land-grant institution. Robert Eikhoff, special agent in charge of the FBI’s Jackson Field Office, toured numerous MSU research units, including the Advanced Composites Institute, Raspet Flight Research Laboratory and Agricultural Autonomy Institute, and discussed how the agency and university can work together to build a “stronger fabric of cohesion” for the future. “This has been a great opportunity for us to really share our appreciation for the partnership that we have with the school. It's uncommon to have this degree of relationship with academia, so we want to celebrate and honor that, and find pathways to have better points of collaboration,” Eikhoff said.

University launches cutting-edge ‘Anatomage Tables’ for 3D human anatomy exploration
Students seeking scientific medical knowledge at Mississippi State University now have a cutting-edge resource to help them dissect human anatomy with the most-advanced medical education system available -- state-of-the-art Anatomage Tables. Seven tables were revealed at a ribbon-cutting ceremony and open house last week in the Academic Computer Laboratory on Herbert Street. These revolutionary tools acquired by MSU’s Department of Biological Sciences will transform the way students learn about human anatomy and physiology -- now available through a digital approach, providing students and faculty with highly accurate, human-based medical education without the need for traditional cadavers. Angus Dawe, head of the Department of Biological Sciences, said the tables demonstrate the university’s commitment to incorporating cutting-edge technology into its curricula.

MSU, ERDC celebrate impactful research collaborations, growing pipeline for Mississippi scientists, engineers
Mississippi State University and the U.S. Army Engineer Research and Development Center celebrated research collaborations and career opportunities for students last week during the third annual ERDC Days at MSU. ERDC senior leadership toured MSU research facilities and connected with more than 1,200 students to encourage them to tackle some of the world’s biggest engineering challenges. Headquartered in Vicksburg, the ERDC serves as the research and development branch of the Army Corps of Engineers and has longstanding educational and research partnerships with MSU. More than 300 ERDC employees have degrees from the land-grant university, and 48 MSU students interned recently with the center. ERDC Director David Pittman said MSU researchers and students have a mindset of supporting the nation and solving problems, which makes them a good fit for his group.

Phase two construction brings IDEELab to life with enhanced learning experiences
Mississippi State mechanical engineering faculty, staff and students are receiving a new space for research and collaboration with the ongoing construction of the Innovation, Design and Engineering Education Laboratory. Located in Patterson Engineering Laboratories, the IDEELab is in phase two of a four-phase process to provide new labs, classrooms and student spaces for the Michael W. Hall School of Mechanical Engineering. Ross Smith, IDEELab director and MSU mechanical engineering assistant professor of practice, said the new lab enhances the excellent work faculty members are already doing. “We’re transforming theoretical learning into practical experience by taking what’s taught in the classroom and bringing it to life through hands-on application,” Smith said.